Yellowstone National Park officials acknowledged back in August of this year that a severed foot had been discovered in Abyss Pool, located in the West Thumb Geyser Basin.
The Park suspected that the body part was related to an incident that occurred on July 31st. That theory has now been confirmed.
Here’s the statement from Yellowstone National Park:
“Yellowstone National Park announced today that the human foot found in Abyss Pool, located in the West Thumb Geyser Basin, belonged to Il Hun Ro, a 70-year-old male from Los Angeles, California.
Yellowstone law enforcement officers received the positive identification based on DNA analysis in the last three weeks and notified the family.”
^Abyss Pool. Credit: Yellowstone National Park via Flickr
The Park does not believe that foul play occurred. They’ve concluded that Il Hun Ro fell into the pool on July 31st, but that the incident went unwitnessed.
Abyss Pool is 53 feet deep with water temps ranging from 100-200 Fahrenheit.
Record-keepers believe more than 20 people have been boiled alive by falling in or deliberately bathing in Yellowstone thermal waters since 1870.
Yellowstone has strict rules for guests when visiting thermal features for their safety. They’re as follows:
- Stay on boardwalks and designated trails.
- Hydrothermal water can severely burn you.
- Never run, push, or shove.
- Supervise children at all times.
- Do not scratch hydrothermal mats.
Our thoughts and condolences are with the friends and family of the deceased.
Featured Image: Abyss Pool. Credit: Yellowstone National Park via Flickr
